ATYPICALLY LOCATED PARAMOLAR - REPORT OF A RARE CASE

A paramolar mesial to the mandibular second molar would be predicted f rom the atavistic theory on phylogenetic evolution of the human dentit ion. The actual finding of this feature, however, appears to have been reported only once, A 4 mm long tooth was found mesial to the right m andibular second molar in a 54-yr-old Japanese female. The tooth had a ball-shaped crown, a relatively normal crown/root length ratio,and a tapering root located entirely in the gingival soft tissue.